Release Detail

February 25, 2005 - Florida Sen. Nelson's Approval Inches Up,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Harris Has Early Lead In Pack Of GOP Challengers

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson has a 50 - 17 percent approval rating, with 33 percent
undecided, an improvement of eight points over the last six months, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Sen. Nelson had a 42 - 18 percent approval in an August 12, 2004, poll by the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University, and a 46 - 17 percent approval
December 7, 2004.

5 percent of voters, and 3 percent of Republicans, want former House Speaker Daniel
Webster.

"There's good news and bad news for Sen. Bill Nelson, whose biggest problem
continues to be that one-third of Florida voters don't know much about him after four
years in office," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University
Polling Institute.

"The good news is that Sen. Nelson has hit the 50 percent mark on his job
approval. The bad news is that voters split right down the middle, 37 - 37 percent, on
whether he should be reelected. But that pits Nelson against an unknown candidate and
incumbents usually do better in polls when matched against specific candidates who
bring their own individual negatives into voters' minds," Richards added.

"Among the things that may have helped Nelson improve his approval rating is
his opposition to President Bush's Social Security proposal."

Former Education Commissioner Betty Castor, a Democrat, and Attorney
General Crist, a Republican, are slightly ahead of their respective packs in an early look
at the 2006 governor's race, with 30 points each.

Among other Democrats, businessman Bud Chiles gets 25 percent and none of the
four other potential candidates, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, State Sen. Rod Smith, State Sen.
Walter Campbell and State Democratic Party Chair Scott Maddox, breaks 10 percent.

"Betty Castor has name recognition and momentum after her narrow defeat in the
2004 U.S. Senate race and Bud Chiles benefits from his father's name recognition, but
it's still too early to draw any firm conclusions about who is ahead in the 2006 race for
governor," Richards said.

"The Republicans have three people named as possible candidates for governor or
senator, so the candidates themselves must sort that out before the voters can examine
them more closely."

From February 18 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,007 Florida voters
with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his
job as United States Senator?

8. Now I'm going to name six Democrats who might run for Governor in 2006.
After I read all six names, tell me which one you would most like to see
the Democrats nominate for governor in 2006.
Here are the choices; Congressman Jim Davis, State Senator Rod Smith,
State Senator Walter 'Skip' Campbell, businessman Bud Chiles, son of the
late Governor Lawton Chiles, State Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox,
or former state education commissioner Betty Castor.

9. Now I'm going to name three Republicans who might run for governor in 2006.
After I read all three names, tell me which one you would most like to see the
Republicans nominate for Governor in 2006.
Here are the choices; Attorney General Charlie Crist, Lieutenant Governor Toni
Jennings or State Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.

10. Now I'm going to name five Republicans who might run for senator in 2006.
After I read all five names, tell me which one you would most like to see the
Republicans nominate for Senator in 2006.
Here are the choices; Attorney General Charlie Crist, Lieutenant Governor Toni
Jennings, State Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, Former House Speaker
Daniel Webster or Congresswoman Katherine Harris.